Shift register, liquid crystal display device having the shift register and method of driving scan lines using the same

ABSTRACT

In a bi-directional shift register and a liquid crystal display device having the bi-directional shift register, the shift register further includes a dummy stage for resetting a last stage. The dummy stage is reset by a control signal of the last stage or by the output signal of the dummy stage. Therefore, power consumption and layout area may be reduced. The shift register includes a plurality of stages and two dummy stages, and two selection signals for selecting shift direction is applied to each of the stages.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 10/458,053 filed Jun. 10, 2003, which claims priority to and thebenefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-32368 filed on Jun. 10,2002 and Korean Patent Application No. 2002-37944 filed on Jul. 2, 2002,the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shift register, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) device having the shift register and a method of drivingscan lines using the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

An LCD device has advantages over other display devices, for example CRTtype display device. In detail, the LCD device may be manufactured in athinner and lighter structure having a lower power consumption, mayrequire a lower driving voltage compared with the other display devices,and may provide image display quality similar to that of the CRT typedisplay device. The LCD device is widely used in various electronicapparatus.

When voltage is applied to liquid crystal molecules, the alignment angleof the liquid crystal molecules is changed, the transmissivity of theliquid crystal molecules is regulated, and thus an image is displayed.

The LCD device is classified into a twisted nematic (TN) type LCD deviceand a super-twisted nematic (STN) type LCD device. The LCD device alsomay be classified into an active matrix type LCD device and a passivematrix type LCD device according to a method of driving the LCD device.The active matrix type LCD device employs switching elements and TNliquid crystal. The active matrix type LCD device is used in a thin filmtransistor (TFT) LCD device. However, the passive matrix type LCD deviceemploys STN liquid crystal.

The active matrix type LCD device uses the thin film transistors as aswitching element so as to drive the LCD device. However, the passivematrix type LCD device does not use transistors so as to drive the LCDdevice, so that the passive matrix type LCD device does not requirecomplicated circuits for driving the LCD device.

The TFT LCD device is classified into amorphous-Si TFT LCD (or a-Si TFTLCD) device and a poly-Si TFT LCD device. The poly-silicon TFT LCD (orpoly-Si TFT LCD) device has lower power consumption and a low price, butis manufactured through complex processes compared with the a-Si TFT LCDdevice. Accordingly, the poly-Si TFT LCD is used in a display devicehaving a small display screen such as a mobile phone.

The a-Si TFT LCD device may provide a large display screen and a highyield (or high productivity), and is used in a display device having alarge display screen such as a laptop computer, an LCD monitor or a highdefinition television (HDTV).

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional poly-silicon thin filmtransistor LCD, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a conventionala-Si thin film transistor LCD.

As shown in FIG. 1, the poly-Si TFT LCD device includes a poly-Si TFTpixel array formed on a glass substrate 10. A data driver circuit 12 anda gate driver circuit 14 are formed on the glass substrate 10. Anintegrated printed circuit board 20 is connected to a terminal part 16by means of a film cable 18, so that the cost for manufacturing thepoly-Si TFT LCD device may be reduced and power consumption may beminimized because the data driver circuit 12 and the gate driver circuit14 are integrated on the glass substrate 10.

However, as shown in FIG. 2, in the a-Si TFT LCD device, a data driverchip 34 is mounted on a flexible printed circuit board 32 via a chip onfilm (COF), and a data printed circuit board 36 is connected to a dataline terminal on the a-Si TFT pixel array through the flexible printedcircuit board 32. A gate driver chip 40 is mounted on the flexibleprinted circuit board 32 via the chip on film (COF), and a gate printedcircuit board 42 is connected to a gate line terminal on the a-Si TFTpixel array through a flexible printed circuit board 40.

The a-Si TFT LCD device has an advantage in aspect of yield (orproductivity), but has disadvantage in aspect of manufacturing cost andthickness.

A power supply for supplying a power voltage to the gate driver circuitmay be mounted on the data printed circuit board so as to remove thegate printed circuit board.

However, even when the gate driver circuit is mounted on the dataprinted circuit board, the gate driver circuit is mounted on theflexible printed circuit. Since a plurality of flexible printed circuitsis bonded to the glass substrate, the a-Si TFT LCD device uses acomplicate outer lead bonding process so as to bind the flexible printedcircuits to the glass substrate. Accordingly, the cost for manufacturingthe a-Si TFT LCD device increases.

Therefore, according to a recent method of manufacturing the a-Si TFTLCD device, the data driver circuit and the gate driver circuit areformed on the glass substrate in the same process as the process offorming the pixel array on the glass substrate so as to reduce thenumber of steps for manufacturing the a-Si TFT LCD device.

However, the shift direction is fixed in the shift register of theconventional a-Si TFT LCD device, and the conventional a-Si TFT LCDdevice does not provide a bi-directional shift register in which aforward shift or a backward shift occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is provided to substantially obviateone or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the relatedart.

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a shift register,which may drive a liquid crystal display device having a large displayscreen, may have low power consumption and may have a reduced layoutarea required for designing the shift register.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a liquidcrystal display device having the shift register, which may drive theliquid crystal display device having a large display screen, may havelow power consumption and may have a reduced layout area required fordesigning the shift register.

It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide a shiftregister having a bidirectional shift function so that an image may bedisplayed upside down on the display screen.

It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide a liquidcrystal display device including the shift register having abidirectional shift function so that an image may be displayed upsidedown on the display screen.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shiftregister including a plurality of stages and a dummy stage. The stagesinclude odd numbered stages and even numbered stages. The odd numberedstages respectively receives a first clock and a first control signal,the first clock is prevented from being outputted from each of the oddnumbered stages in response to the first control signal, and the evennumbered stages respectively receives a second clock and a secondcontrol signal. The second clock is prevented from being outputted fromeach of the even numbered stages in response to the second controlsignal. The second clock has a first phase 180° different from a secondphase of the first clock. The stages respectively delay the first clockor the second clock by a first period to sequentially output the firstclock and the second clock as a scan line driving signal. The dummystage generates a dummy output signal, and the scan line driving signalof a last stage falls below a first predetermined voltage level inresponse to the dummy output signal of the dummy stage. The dummy outputsignal is delayed by a second period and falls below a secondpredetermined voltage level in response to the dummy output signal.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shiftregister including a plurality of stages and a dummy stage. The stagesinclude odd numbered stages and even numbered stages. The odd numberedstages respectively receives a first clock and a first control signal,the first clock is prevented from being outputted from each of the oddnumbered stages in response to the first control signal, and the evennumbered stages respectively receives a second clock and a secondcontrol signal. The second clock is prevented from being outputted fromeach of the even numbered stages in response to the second controlsignal. The second clock has a first phase 180° different from a secondphase of the first clock. The stages respectively delay the first clockor the second clock by a first period to sequentially output the firstclock and the second clock as a scan line driving signal. The dummystage is coupled to a last stage and generates a dummy output signal.The scan line driving signal of the last stage falls below a firstpredetermined voltage level in response to the dummy output signal ofthe dummy stage, and the dummy output signal is delayed by a secondperiod and falls below a second predetermined voltage level in responseto a control signal of the last stage.

In further another aspect of the present invention, there is provided aliquid crystal display device including a display cell array, a datadriver circuit and a gate driver circuit. The display cell array isformed on a transparent substrate and includes a plurality of gatelines, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of switching elements.The switching elements respectively are coupled to each of the datalines and each of the gate lines. The data driver circuit is coupledwith the data lines and provides the data lines with image signals. Thegate driver circuit is coupled with the gate lines and drives theswitching elements. The gate driver circuit includes a plurality ofstages and a dummy stage. The stages include odd numbered stages andeven numbered stages, and the odd numbered stages respectively receivesa first clock and a first control signal. The first clock is preventedfrom being outputted from each of the odd numbered stages in response tothe first control signal. The even numbered stages respectively receivea second clock and a second control signal, and the second clock isprevented from being outputted from each of the even numbered stages inresponse to the second control signal. The second clock has a firstphase 180° different from a second phase of the first clock. The stagesrespectively delay the first clock or the second clock by a first periodand sequentially output the first clock and the second clock as a gateline driving signal to sequentially select the gate lines. The dummystage generates a dummy output signal. The gate line driving signal of alast stage falls below a first predetermined voltage level in responseto the dummy output signal of the dummy stage, and the dummy outputsignal is delayed by a second period, and falls below a secondpredetermined voltage level in response to the dummy output signal.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided aliquid crystal display device including a display cell array, a datadriver circuit and a gate driver circuit. The display cell array isformed on a transparent substrate, and the display cell array includes aplurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines and a plurality ofswitching elements. The switching elements respectively are coupled toeach of the data lines and each of the gate lines. The data drivercircuit is coupled with the data lines and provides the data lines withimage signals. The gate driver circuit is coupled with the gate linesand drives the switching elements. The gate driver circuit includes aplurality of stages and a dummy stage. The stages include odd numberedstages and even numbered stages. The odd numbered stages respectivelyreceive a first clock and a first control signal. The first clock isprevented from being outputted from each of the odd numbered stages inresponse to the first control signal, and the even numbered stagesrespectively receive a second clock and a second control signal. Thesecond clock is prevented from being outputted from each of the evennumbered stages in response to the second control signal. The secondclock has a first phase 180° different from a second phase of the firstclock, and the stages respectively delay the first clock or the secondclock by a first period to sequentially output the first clock and thesecond clock as a gate line driving signal. The dummy stage is coupledto a last stage and generates a dummy output signal. The gate linedriving signal of the last stage falls below a first predeterminedvoltage level in response to the dummy output signal of the dummy stage,and the dummy output signal is delayed by a second period and fallingbelow a second predetermined voltage level in response to a controlsignal of the last stage.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod of driving a plurality of scan lines by providing a display panelwith a plurality of scan line driving signals. A scan start signal isreceived so as to generate a first scan line driving signal, and a firstvoltage level of the first scan line driving signal is lowered so as toinactivate a first scan line in response to a second scan line drivingsignal. A (N−1)th scan line driving signal is received so as to generatea Nth scan line driving signal, and a second voltage level of the Nthscan line driving signal is lowered so as to inactivate a Nth scan linein response to an (N+1)th scan line driving signal. N is a naturalnumber more than 2. A Mth scan line driving signal is generated inresponse to a (M−1)th scan line driving signal, and M is the integergreater than N and has a same number as a number of the scan lines. Acontrol signal is generated in response to the Mth scan line drivingsignal, and a third voltage level of the Mth scan line driving signal islowered so as to inactivate a Mth scan line. A fourth voltage level ofthe control signal is lowered after a predetermined period of delay inresponse to the control signal.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod of driving a plurality of scan lines by providing a display panelwith a plurality of scan line driving signals. A scan start signal isreceived so as to generate a first scan line driving signal, and a firstvoltage level of the first scan line driving signal is lowered so as toinactivate a first scan line in response to a second scan line drivingsignal. A (N−1)th scan line driving signal is received so as to generatea Nth scan line driving signal, and a second voltage level of the Nthscan line driving signal is lowered so as to inactivate a Nth scan linein response to an (N+1)th scan line driving signal. N is a naturalnumber more than 2. A Mth scan line driving signal is generated inresponse to a (M−1)th scan line driving signal, and M is the integergreater than N and has a same number as a number of the scan lines. Adummy output signal is generated in response to the Mth scan linedriving signal, and a third voltage level of the Mth scan line drivingsignal is lowered so as to inactivate a Mth scan line. The Mth scan linedriving signal has a first voltage level. A fourth voltage level of thedummy output signal is lowered in response to a control signal, and thecontrol signal has substantially the first voltage level.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided ashift register including odd numbered stages and even numbered stages.The odd numbered stages respectively receive a first clock, and the evennumbered stages respectively receive a second clock having a first phase180° different from a second phase of the first clock. The shiftregister includes a first stage, an Nth stage (N is an integer greaterthan or equal to 2), a last stage, a first dummy stage and a seconddummy stage. The first stage performs a forward shift from the firststage to a last stage when a first selection signal has a first voltagelevel and performs a backward shift from the last stage to the firststage when a second selection signal has the first voltage level. TheNth stage performs the forward shift from the first stage to the laststage when the first selection signal has the first voltage level andperforms the backward shift from the last stage to the first stage whenthe second selection signal has the first voltage level. The last stageperforms the forward shift from the first stage to the last stage whenthe first selection signal has the first voltage level and performs thebackward shift from the last stage to the first stage when the secondselection signal has the first voltage level. The first dummy stageinactivates (or reset) the last stage during the forward shift. A seconddummy stage inactivates the first stage during the backward shift.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided ashift register including odd numbered stages and even numbered stages.The odd numbered stages respectively receive a first clock, and the evennumbered stages respectively receive a second clock having a first phase180° different from a second phase of the first clock. The stages of theshifter register are sequentially shifted in synchronization with thefirst and second clock signals in a forward direction and in a backwarddirection. The shift register including a first stage, an Nth stage (Nis an integer greater than or equal to 2), a last stage, a first dummystage and a second dummy stage. The first stage receives a scan startsignal, generates a first scan line driving signal when a firstselection signal has a first voltage level, and lowers a second voltagelevel of the first scan line driving signal in response to a second scanline driving signal generated from a second stage. The first stagegenerates the first scan line driving signal in response to the secondscan line driving signal when a second selection signal has the firstvoltage level, and lowers the second voltage level of the first scanline driving signal in response to a second dummy output signal. The Nthstage generates a Nth scan line driving signal in response to a (N−1)thscan line driving signal outputted from a (N−1)th stage when the firstselection signal has the first voltage level, and lowers a third voltagelevel of the Nth scan line driving signal in response to an (N+1)th scanline driving signal outputted from an (N+1)th stage. The Nth stagegenerates the Nth scan line driving signal in response to the (N+1)thscan line driving signal when the second selection signal has the firstvoltage level, and lowers the third voltage level of the Nth scan linedriving signal in response to the (N−1)th scan line driving signal. N isan integer greater than 2. A Mth stage generates a Mth scan line drivingsignal in response to a (M−1)th scan line driving signal outputted froma (M−1)th stage when the first selection signal has the first voltagelevel, and lowers a fourth voltage level of the Mth scan line drivingsignal in response to a first dummy output signal. The Mth stagegenerates the Mth scan line driving signal in response to the scan startsignal when the second selection signal has the first voltage level, andlowers the fourth voltage level of the Mth scan line driving signal inresponse to the (M−1)th scan line driving signal. M is the integergreater than N. A first dummy stage receives the first clock signal andthe Mth scan line driving signal to generate the first dummy outputsignal, and the first dummy stage lowers a fifth voltage level of thefirst dummy output signal in response to the scan start signal. Thesecond dummy stage receives the second clock signal and the first scanline driving signal to generate the second dummy output signal, and thesecond dummy stage lowers a sixth voltage level of the second dummyoutput signal in response to the scan start signal.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided aliquid crystal display device including a display cell array, a datadriver circuit and a gate driver circuit. The display cell array isformed on a transparent substrate. The display cell array includes aplurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines and a plurality ofswitching elements. The switching elements respectively are coupled toeach of the data lines and each of the gate lines. The data drivercircuit is coupled with the data lines and provides the data lines withimage signals. A gate driver circuit includes odd numbered stages andeven numbered stages. The odd numbered stages respectively receive afirst clock, and the even numbered stages respectively receive a secondclock having a first phase 180° different from a second phase of thefirst clock. The gate driver circuit includes a first stage, an Nthstage (N is an integer greater than or equal to 2), a last stage, afirst dummy stage and a second dummy stage. The first stage performs aforward shift from the first stage to a last stage when a firstselection signal has a first voltage level and performs a backward shiftfrom the last stage to the first stage when a second selection signalhas the first voltage level. The Nth stage performs the forward shiftfrom the first stage to the last stage when the first selection signalhas the first voltage level and performs the backward shift from thelast stage to the first stage when the second selection signal has thefirst voltage level. The last stage performs the forward shift from thefirst stage to the last stage when the first selection signal has thefirst voltage level and performs the backward shift from the last stageto the first stage when the second selection signal has the firstvoltage level. The first dummy stage inactivates the last stage duringthe forward shift, and the second dummy stage inactivates the firststage during the backward shift.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided aliquid crystal display device including a display cell array, a datadriver circuit and a gate driver circuit. The display cell array isformed on a transparent substrate. The display cell array includes aplurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines and a plurality ofswitching elements. The switching elements respectively are coupled toeach of the data lines and each of the gate lines. The data drivercircuit is coupled with the data lines and provides the data lines withimage signals. The gate driver circuit includes odd numbered stages andeven numbered stages. The odd numbered stages respectively receive afirst clock, and the even numbered stages respectively receive a secondclock having a first phase 180° different from a second phase of thefirst clock. The stages of the shifter register are sequentially shiftedin synchronization with the first and second clock signals in a forwarddirection and in a backward direction. The gate driver circuit includesa first stage, an Nth stage (N is an integer greater than or equal to2), an Mth stage (M is the integer greater than N), a last stage, afirst dummy stage and a second dummy stage. The first stage receives ascan start signal to generate a first gate line driving signal when afirst selection signal has a first voltage level and lowers a secondvoltage level of the first scan line driving signal in response to asecond gate line driving signal generated from a second stage. The firststage generates the first gate line driving signal in response to thesecond gate line driving signal when a second selection signal has thefirst voltage level and lowers the second voltage level of the firstgate line driving signal in response to a second dummy output signal.The Nth stage generates a Nth gate line driving signal in response to a(N−1)th gate line driving signal outputted from a (N−1)th stage when thefirst selection signal has the first voltage level and lowers a thirdvoltage level of the Nth gate line driving signal in response to an(N+1)th gate line driving signal outputted from an (N+1)th stage. TheNth stage generates the Nth gate line driving signal in response to the(N+1)th gate line driving signal when the second selection signal hasthe first voltage level and lowers the third voltage level of the Nthgate line driving signal in response to the (N−1)th gate line drivingsignal.

The Mth stage generates a Mth gate line driving signal in response to a(M−1)th gate line driving signal outputted from a (M−1)th stage when thefirst selection signal has the first voltage level and lowers a fourthvoltage level of the Mth gate line driving signal in response to a firstdummy output signal. The Mth stage generates the Mth gate line drivingsignal in response to the scan start signal when the second selectionsignal has the first voltage level and lowers the fourth voltage levelof the Mth gate line driving signal in response to the (M−1)th gate linedriving signal. The first dummy stage receives the first clock signaland the Mth gate line driving signal to generate the first dummy outputsignal, and the first dummy stage lowers a fifth voltage level of thefirst dummy output signal in response to the scan start signal. Thesecond dummy stage receives the second clock signal and the first gateline driving signal to generate the second dummy output signal. Thesecond dummy stage lowers a sixth voltage level of the second dummyoutput signal in response to the scan start signal.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided aliquid crystal display device including a first transparent substrate, asecond transparent substrate facing the first transparent substrate, aliquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second transparentsubstrates, a display cell array, a gate driver circuit, a data drivercircuit and a flexible printed circuit board. The display cell array isformed on the first transparent substrate. The display cell arrayincludes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines and aplurality of first switching elements, and the first switching elementsrespectively are coupled to each of the data lines and each of the gatelines. The gate driver circuit is formed on the first transparentsubstrate and performs a bi-directional shift operation in which thegate lines are selected sequentially in a forward direction or in abackward direction. The gate driver circuit includes a plurality ofstages, a first dummy stage and a second dummy stage. The first dummystage lowers a first voltage level of a last gate line driving signaloutputted from a last stage, and the second dummy stage lowers a secondvoltage level of a first gate line driving signal outputted from a firststage and inactivates the first dummy stage. The data driver circuit isformed on the first transparent substrate and provides the data lines animage signal. The date driver circuit includes a shift register and aplurality of data line blocks. The data line blocks respectively have aplurality of second switching elements, a first electrode of each of thesecond switching elements coupled to a data input terminal, secondelectrodes of the second switching elements coupled to respective datalines, third electrodes of the second switching elements commonlycoupled to respective block selection terminals. The shift register hasa plurality of data stages cascade-connected to each other, and a firstdata stage receives a scan start signal for initiating a selection ofthe data line blocks. The data stages outputs a block selection signalso as to sequentially select each of the data line blocks. The flexibleprinted circuit board provides the gate driver circuit and the datadriver circuit with a control signal and the image signal, respectively.The flexible printed circuit includes a control integrated circuit and adata driver integrated circuit mounted thereon.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod of driving a plurality of scan lines. The scan lines aresequentially selected in a forward shift from a first scan line to alast scan line or in a backward shift from the last scan line to thefirst scan line. In the forward shift, a first scan line driving signalis generated when a first selection signal has a first voltage level. Inthe backward shift, the first scan line driving signal is generated whena second selection signal has the first voltage level. In the forwardshift, 2nd, 3rd, . . . , (N−1)th scan line driving signals are generatedwhen the first selection signal has the first voltage level. In thebackward shift, the 2nd, 3rd, . . . , (N−1)th scan line driving signalsare generated when the second selection signal has the first voltagelevel, and N is an integer greater than 4. In the forward shift, an Nthscan line driving signal is generated when the first selection signalhas the first voltage level. In the backward shift, the Nth scan linedriving signal is generated when the second selection signal has thefirst voltage level. A first dummy output signal is generated during theforward shift to lower a second voltage level of the Nth scan linedriving signal. A second dummy output signal is generated during thebackward shift to lower a third voltage level of the first scan linedriving signal.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod of driving a plurality of scan lines. The scan lines aresequentially selected in a forward shift from a first scan line to alast scan line or in a backward shift from the last scan line to thefirst scan line. A first scan line driving signal is generated inresponse to a scan start signal, and a first voltage level of the firstscan line driving signal is lowered in response to a second scan linedriving signal so as to perform the forward shift when a first selectionsignal has a first level. The first scan line driving signal isgenerated in response to the second scan line driving signal, and thefirst voltage level of the first scan line driving signal is lowered inresponse to a second dummy output signal so as to perform the backwardshift when a second selection signal has the first level. 2nd, 3rd, . .. , and (N−1)th scan line driving signals are generated in response to aprevious scan line driving signal, and a second voltage level of each ofthe 2nd, 3rd, . . . , and (N−1)th scan line driving signals are loweredin response to a next scan line driving signal so as to perform theforward shift when the first selection signal has the first level. The2nd, 3rd, . . . , and (N−1)th first scan line driving signals aregenerated in response to the next scan line driving signal, and thesecond voltage level of each of the 2nd, 3rd, . . . , and (N−1)th scanline driving signals are lowered in response to the previous scan linedriving signal so as to perform the backward shift when the secondselection signal has the first level, N being an integer greater than 4.A Nth scan line driving signal are generated in response to a (N−1)thscan line driving signal, and a third voltage level of the Nth scan linedriving signal is lowered in response to the first dummy output signalso as to perform the forward shift when the first selection signal hasthe first level. The Nth scan line driving signal is generated inresponse to the scan start signal, and the third voltage level of theNth scan line driving signal is lowered in response to the (N−1)th scanline driving signal so as to perform the backward shift when the secondselection signal has the first level. The first dummy output signal isgenerated in response to the Nth scan line driving signal, and the thirdvoltage level of the Nth scan line driving signal is lowered in responseto the first dummy output signal during the forward shift. Then, afourth voltage level of the first dummy output signal is lowered. Thesecond dummy output signal is generated in response to the first scanline driving signal, and the first voltage level of the first scan linedriving signal is lowered in response to the second dummy output signalduring the backward shift. A fifth voltage level of the second dummyoutput signal is lowered.

As described above, according to the shift register of this invention,the shift register includes a plurality of stages and a dummy stage forresetting the last stage. the dummy stage is reset (or inactivated) by acontrol signal of the last stage or by the output signal of the dummystage instead of the scan start signal. Since the output signal of thedummy stage does not exist during a display blanking period, the powerconsumption due to the output signal of the dummy stage may be reduced.In addition, since the dummy stage is reset not by the scan startsignal, the layout area for gate driver circuit of the TFT LCD isreduced. In addition, the parasitic capacitance due to the scan startsignal line may be reduced, the distortion of the signals may bereduced, and the power consumption of the first and second clocks due tothe parasitic capacitance may be reduced.

Further, the shift register includes a plurality of stages and two dummystages, and two selection signals for selecting shift direction isapplied to each of the stages. The first and second clock signals ckvand ckvb may be alternately applied to the first and second clockterminals so as to change the shift direction. Accordingly, abi-directional shift operation (forward or backward shift operation) maybe performed without adding another circuits to the shift register.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent by describing in detail the preferred embodiments thereof withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional poly-silicon thin filmtransistor LCD;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a conventional a-Si thin filmtransistor LCD;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an a-Si thin filmtransistor LCD according to one exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an a-Si thin film transistorsubstrate of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a data driver circuit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an Nth stage in a shift register ofthe gate driver circuit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a stage of the shift register ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a graph showing scan line driving signals outputted from thestage of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the scan line driving signals outputted fromthe shift register of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing an Nth stage and an (N+1)th stagein the shift register of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the output of the shift register of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing an Nth stage and an (N+1)th stagein a shift register according to one exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the output of the shift register of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram showing an Nth stage and an (N+1)th stagein a shift register according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 15 is a graph showing the output of the shift register of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a bi-directional shift registeremployed in the gate driver circuit of an a-Si TFT LCD according tofurther another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram showing a second stage and a third stage inthe shift register of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram showing a dummy stage 0 in the shiftregister of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a circuit diagram showing a first stage in the shift registerof FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a circuit diagram showing a fourth stage in the shiftregister of FIG. 16;

FIG. 21 is a circuit diagram showing a dummy stage 1 in the shiftregister of FIG. 16;

FIG. 22 is a graph showing scan line driving signals outputted from thestages of FIG. 16 during a forward shift;

FIG. 23 is a graph showing scan line driving signals outputted from thestages of FIG. 16 during a backward shift;

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a bi-directional shift registeremployed in the gate driver circuit of an a-Si TFT LCD according to astill another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a circuit diagram showing a second stage and a third stage inthe shift register of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a circuit diagram showing a first stage in the shift registerof FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a circuit diagram showing a fourth stage in the shiftregister of FIG. 24;

FIG. 28 is a graph showing scan line driving signals outputted from thestages of FIG. 24 during a forward shift;

FIG. 29 is a graph showing scan line driving signals outputted from thestages of FIG. 24 during a backward shift;

FIGS. 30, 31, 32 and 33 are block diagrams respectively showing abi-directional shift register according to still another embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIGS. 34, 35, 36 and 37 are block diagrams respectively showing abi-directional shift register according to still another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter the preferred embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an a-Si thin filmtransistor LCD according to one exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the liquid crystal display device 100 includes aliquid crystal display panel assembly 110, a backlight assembly 120, achassis 130 and a cover case 140.

The liquid crystal display panel assembly 110 includes a liquid crystaldisplay panel 112, a flexible printed circuit board 116 and anintegrated control chip 118. The liquid crystal display panel 112includes a TFT substrate 112 a and a color filter substrate 112 b.

A display cell array, a data driver circuit, a gate driver circuit andexternal connection terminals are formed on the TFT substrate 112 a.Color filters and transparent common electrodes are formed on the colorfilter substrate 112 b. The color filter substrate 112 b faces the TFTsubstrate 112 a, and liquid crystal is filled between the color filtersubstrate 112 b and the TFT substrate 112 a.

The integrated control chip 118 is electrically connected to the thinfilm transistors formed on display cell array of the TFT substrate 112 athrough the flexible printed circuit 116. Data signal, data timingsignal, gate timing signal and power voltage for driving the gate drivercircuit is supplied to the data driver circuit and the gate drivercircuit formed on the TFT substrate 112 a. The display cell arrayincludes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines and aplurality of switching elements, and the switching elements respectivelyis connected to each of the data lines and each of the gate lines. Thegate driver circuit is connected with the gate lines, and drives theswitching elements. The data driver circuit is connected with the datalines, and provides the data lines with image signals.

The backlight assembly 120 includes a lamp assembly 122, a light-guideplate 124, optical sheets 126, a reflection plate 128 and a mold frame129.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an a-Si thin film transistorsubstrate of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, a display cell array 150, a data driver circuit160, a gate driver circuit 170 and an external connection terminals 162and 163 for connecting the data driver circuit 160 to the integratedcontrol chip 118 and another external connection terminal 169 forconnecting the gate driver circuit 170 to the integrated control chip118 are formed on the TFT substrate 112 a in the same process in whichthe TFTs are formed on the TFT substrate 112 a.

The display cell array 150 includes m data lines DL1, DL2, . . . , DLmand n gate lines GL1, GL2, . . . , GLn. The data lines DL1, DL2, . . . ,DLm are extended in a column direction, and the gate lines GL1, GL2, . .. , GLn are extended in a row direction. For example, a liquid crystaldisplay panel having 2-inch screen size is disclosed. The liquid crystaldisplay panel has 176 data lines and 192 gate lines, to thereby providea dot resolution 525 (176×3)×192.

Switching transistors (ST; or switching elements) are formed on anintersection between the data lines and the gate lines. A drain of theswitching transistor STi is connected to a data line DLi, a gate of theswitching transistor STi is connected to a gate line GLi, and a sourceof the switching transistor STi is connected to a pixel electrode PE.Liquid crystal LC is disposed between the pixel electrode PE and thecommon electrode CE. The common electrode CE is formed on the colorfilter substrate 112 b.

Therefore, the voltage applied to the pixel electrode PE and the commonelectrode CE changes the alignment angle of the liquid crystalmolecules, the amount of the light that passing through the liquidcrystal molecules are regulated, and an image may be displayed.

The data driver circuit 160 includes a shift register 164 and 528switching transistors (SWTs). Each of 8 data line blocks BL1, BL2, . . ., BL8 includes 66 switching transistors (SWTs).

66 input terminals of each of the data line blocks are commonlyconnected to the external connection terminal 163, and 66 outputterminals are connected to the 66 corresponding data lines,respectively. The external connection terminal 163 has 66 data inputterminals. A block selection terminal is connected to an output terminalof the shift register 164.

Sources of the 528 switching transistors (SWTs) are connected to thecorresponding data lines, drains of the 528 switching transistors (SWTs)are connected to the corresponding data input terminals, respectively,and the gates of the 528 switching transistors (SWTs) are connected tothe block selection terminal. Each of the 528 switching transistors(SWTs) is a-Si TFT MOS transistor.

Accordingly, 66 data lines of the 528 data lines are divided into 8blocks, and 8 block selection signals may sequentially select each ofthe blocks.

The shift register 164 receives a first clock CKH, a second clock CKHBand a block selection start signal STH through the external connectionterminal 162 having three terminals. Each of the output terminals of theshift register 164 is connected to the block selection terminal of thecorresponding data line block.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a data driver circuit of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, the shift register 164 according to the presentinvention includes, for example, 9 stages SRH₁, SRH₂, . . . , SRH₉ thatare cascade-connected with each other. An output terminal OUT of each ofthe stages is connected to the input terminal IN of a next stage. Thestages includes 8 stages SRH₁, SRH₂, . . . , SRH₈ and a dummy stage(SRC₉). The 8 stages SRH₁, SRH₂, . . . , SRH₈ correspond to the 8 dataline blocks. Each of the stages includes an input terminal IN, an outputterminal OUT, a control terminal CT, a clock terminal CK, a first powervoltage terminal VSS and a second power voltage terminal VDD. The 8stages SRH₁, SRH₂, . . . , SRH₈ provide the block selection terminal ofeach of the data line blocks BL1, BL2, . . . , BL8 with the blockselection start signals DE1, DE2, . . . , DE8, respectively. The blockselection start signals DE1, DE2, . . . , DE8 is an enable signal forselecting each of the data line blocks.

The first clock CKH is applied to odd numbered stages SRH₁, SRH₃, SRH₅,SRH₇, and SRH₉, and the second clock CKHB is applied to even numberedstages SRH₂, SRH₄, SRH₆, SRH₈. The first clock CKH has a phase 180°different from that of the second clock CKHB. For example, the dutyperiod of the first clock CKH and the second clock CKHB is lower than1/66 ms.

An output signal (or gate line driving signal) of the next stage isapplied to a control terminal CT as a control signal.

The output signals of each of the stages have sequentially an activeperiod (or a high level period), the data line block corresponding tothe active period is selected.

The dummy stage SRH₉ provides the control terminal CT of a previousstage (SRH₈) with a control signal.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an Nth stage in a shift register ofthe gate driver circuit of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 6, the gate driver circuit 170 includes a shiftregister, and the shift register, a plurality of stages SRC₁, SRC₂, . .. , SRC₁₉₂ and a dummy stage that are cascade-connected with each other.An output terminal OUT of each of the stages is connected to an inputterminal IN of a next stage. The stages includes 192 stages SRC₁, SRC₂,. . . , SRC₁₉₂ and a dummy stage.

Each of the stages includes an input terminal IN, an output terminalOUT, a control terminal CT, a clock signal input terminal CK, a firstpower voltage terminal VSS and a second power voltage terminal VDD.

The first stage SRC₁ and the dummy stage receive a scan start signalSTV. The scan start signal STV is a pulse synchronized with a verticalsynchronization signal Vsync. Each of the stages SRC₁, SRC₂, . . . ,SRC₁₉₂ generates gate line driving signals GOUT₁, GOUT₂, . . . ,GOUT₁₉₂, respectively, and the gate line driving signals GOUT₁, GOUT₂, .. . , GOUT₁₉₂ are connected to the gate lines, respectively, so as toselect the gate lines.

A first clock ckv is applied to odd numbered stages (SRC₁, SRC₃, SRC₅, .. . ), and the second clock ckvb is applied to even numbered stages(SRH₂, SRH₄, SRH₆, . . . ). The first clock CKB has a phase 180°different from that of the second clock ckvb. For example, the dutyperiod of the first clock ckv and the second clock ckvb is about16.6/192 ms.

The duty period of the clock used in the shift register 164 of the datadriver circuit is about 8 times larger than that of the clock used inthe shift register 170 of the gate driver circuit.

Output signals GOUT₁, GOUT₂, . . . , GOUT₁₉₂ of the next stage SRC₂,SRC₃, SRC₄ is applied to control terminals CT of the stages SRC₁, SRC₂,SRC₃, respectively, as a control signal.

The output signals of each of the stages have sequentially an activeperiod (or a high level period), the gate line corresponding to theactive period is selected.

The dummy stage resets (or inactivates) the last stage (SRH₁₉₂).Specifically, the dummy stage lowers a voltage level of the outputsignal of the last stage (SRH₁₉₂) from a high voltage level (HIGH) to alow voltage level (LOW).

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a stage of the shift register ofFIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a graph showing scan line driving signalsoutputted from the stage of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 7, each of the stages of the shift resister 170includes a pull-up part 171, a pull-down part 172, a pull-up driver part173 and a pull-down driver part 174.

The pull-up part 171 includes a first NMOS transistor M1 of which adrain is connected to a clock signal input terminal CK, a gate isconnected to a third node N3 and a source is connected to an outputterminal GOUT[N].

The pull-down part 172 includes a second NMOS transistor M2 of which adrain is connected to an output terminal OUT, a gate is connected to afourth node N4 and a source is connected to a first power voltageterminal VSS.

The pull-up driver part 173 includes a capacitor C and NMOS transistorsM3, M4 and M5. The capacitor C is connected between the third node N3and the output terminal GOUT[N]. The third NMOS Transistor M3 has adrain connected to a second power voltage VON, a gate connected to anoutput terminal GOUT[N−1] of a previous stage, and a source connected tothe third node N3. Transistor M4 has a drain connected to the third nodeN3, a gate connected to the fourth node N4 and a source connected to thefirst power voltage VOFF. Transistor M5 has a drain connected to thethird node N3, a gate connected to the fourth node N4 and a sourceconnected to the first power voltage VOFF. Transistor M3 has atransistor size about two times larger than that of transistor M5.

The pull-down driver part 174 includes two NMOS transistors M6 and M7.Transistor M6 has a drain and a gate commonly connected with each otherto be connected to the second power voltage VON, a source connected tothe fourth node N4. Transistor M7 has a drain connected to the fourthnode N4, a gate connected to the third node N3 and a source connected tothe first power voltage VOFF. Transistor M7 has a transistor size aboutsixteen times larger than that of transistor M6.

As shown in FIG. 8, when first and second clock signals ckv and ckvb andscan start signal STV are supplied to the shift register 170, the firststage SRC1 delays a high level period of the first clock signal ckv inresponse to the front (leading) edge of the scan start signal STV for apredetermined time of Tdr1, to thereby output a delayed output signalGOUT1.

As described above, the shift register formed on the glass substratereceives the scan start signal STV, the first clock ckv and the secondclock ckvb, and drives the gates of the TFTs formed on the TFTsubstrate.

Hereinafter, the operation of each of the stages of the shift registeris described.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the scan line driving signals outputted fromthe shift register of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 9, the shift register receives a first clock signalckv or a second clock signal ckvb and sequentially provides a pluralityof gate lines with a plurality of gate line driving signal (GOUT₁,GOUT₂, GOUT₃, . . . ). The second clock ckvb has a phase 180° differentfrom the phase of the first clock ckv. The first and second clocksignals swings in a period of 2H, as shown in FIG. 9. A signal outputtedfrom a timing controller (not shown) has a voltage in a range from 0volt to 3 volts and is amplified to have a voltage in a range from −8volts to 24 volts, so that the first and second clock signals isacquired.

Referring again to FIG. 7, the output signal (or gate line drivingsignal) GOUT_(N−1) of the previous stage charges the capacitor C and set(or activate) the present stage. The output signal (or gate line drivingsignal) GOUT_(N+1) of the next stage discharges the capacitor C andreset (or inactivate) the present stage.

When the first clock signal ckv, the second clock signals ckvb and thescan start signal STV are applied to the first stage, a high levelperiod of the first clock signal ckv is delayed by a predeterminedperiod in response to an rising edge of the scan start signal STV to beoutputted at the output terminal as an output signal GOUT[1].

The capacitor C begins to be charged in response to the rising edge ofthe scan start signal STV that is inputted into the gate of thetransistor M1 through the input terminal IN. When the voltage Vc1charged at the capacitor C is larger than the threshold voltage of thetransistor M1, the pull-up transistor M1 is turned on, and the highlevel period of the first clock signal ckv is outputted at the outputterminal OUT.

When the high level period of the first clock signal CKV is outputted atthe output terminal OUT, this output voltage, or the high level periodof the first clock signal ckv, is bootstrapped at the capacitor C andthereby the gate voltage of the pull-up transistor M1 rises over theturn-on voltage Von. Accordingly, the NMOS pull-up transistor M1maintains a full turn-on state. The transistor M1 is turned on even whenthe transistor M3 is turned on by the scan start signal STV since atransistor size of the transistor M3 is about 2 times larger than thatof the transistor M4.

Meanwhile, the voltage of the fourth node N4 rises to the second powervoltage Von by the transistor M6 before the scan start signal STV isinputted into the third node N3, and the transistor M2 is turned on.Accordingly, the output signal of the output terminal OUT hassubstantially the first power voltage Voff. When the scan start signalSTV is inputted to the third node N3, the transistor M7 is turned on,and the voltage of the fourth node N4 is dropped to substantially thefirst power voltage Voff. Since the transistor size of the transistor M7is about 16 times larger than that of the transistor M6, the fourth nodeN4 maintains substantially the first power voltage Voff even though thetransistor M6 is turned on. Accordingly, the pull-down transistor M2 isturned off.

When the scan start signal STV is applied to the third node N3, thepull-down transistor M2 is turned off, and the first clock signal ckv isdelayed by a duty period of the first clock signal ckv to be outputtedat the output terminal.

When the voltage of the output signal outputted from the output terminalOUT is dropped to a turn-off voltage Voff (or Vss), the transistor M7 isturned off. Since only the second power voltage Von is provided to thefourth node N4 through the transistor M6, the voltage of the fourth nodeN4 begins to rise from a first power voltage Voff to a second powervoltage Von. When the voltage of the fourth node begins to rise, thetransistor M4 is turned on, and the charges at the capacitor aredischarged through the transistor M4. Therefore, the pull-up transistorM1 begins to be turned off.

Then, since the output signal GOUT[N+1] outputted from the next stagerises to the turn-on voltage Von, the transistor M5 is turned on. Sincethe transistor size of the transistor M5 is about 2 times larger thanthat of the transistor M4, the voltage of the third node N3 is droppedto the first power voltage Voff more rapidly compared with the case inwhich only the transistor M4 is turned on.

In addition, when the voltage of the fourth node N4 rises to the secondpower voltage Von, the pull-down transistor M2 is turned on, and theoutput voltage outputted from the output terminal OUT is changed fromthe turn-on voltage Von to the turn-off voltage Voff.

Since the fourth node N4 is connected to the transistor M6, the fourthnode N4 maintains the second power voltage Von even though the outputsignal GOUT[N+1] of the next stage that is applied to the controlterminal CT is dropped to a low voltage level and the transistor M5 isturned off. Accordingly, the malfunction due to the turn-off of thepull-down transistor M2 is prevented. As shown in FIG. 8, the outputsignals GOUT[1], GOUT[2], GOUT[3], GOUT[4], . . . are sequentiallygenerated.

As described above, the capacitor C is charged in response to the outputsignal of the previous stage, the clock signal applied to the pull-uppart or pull-down part is outputted as an output signal of the presentstage. When the output signal of the next stage is generated at the gateline connected to the output terminal of the next stage, the outputsignal of the next stage turns on the discharge transistor M5 anddischarges the capacitor C, to thereby terminate an operation cycle ofthe shift register.

According to above described shift register, since the present stage isreset by the output signal of the next stage, the shift registerrequires at least one dummy stage for resetting the last stage. However,the dummy stage should be also reset.

As shown in FIG. 10, the scan start signal STV may be connected to thedischarge transistor M5 of the dummy stage so as to reset the dummystage.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing an Nth stage and an (N+1)th stagein the shift register of FIG. 7, and especially shows the connectionbetween the last stage and the dummy stage.

As shown in FIG. 10, the discharge transistor M5 for discharging thecapacitor C is discharged by the scan start signal STV, or the dummystage is reset by the scan start signal STV.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the output of the shift register of FIG. 7,especially shows the output of the shift register when the shiftregister has five stages and a dummy stage. The output signal of thedummy stage is not related with a gate line driving signal.

Referring to FIG. 11, the voltage of first clock signal ckv is changedto a high level in response to the rising edge of the scan start signalSTV after a predetermined period of delay, and then the first gate linedriving signal GOUT[1] is generated at the output terminal of the firststage.

Next, the gate line driving signals GOUT[2], GOUT[3], GOUT[4] andGOUT[5] are sequentially generated at the output terminals of the first,second, third, fourth and fifth stages, respectively. Since the scanstart signal STV is applied to the first stage and the dummy stage (orthe sixth stage), the dummy stage outputs the second clock signal ckvbbefore the dummy stage is reset by the next scan start signal STV.

However, when the dummy stage is reset by the scan start signal STV, thelayout area for gate driver circuit of the TFT LCD increases since thescan start signal line is connected to the first stage and the sixthstage to be extended along the entire stages.

In addition, since the scan start signal line is arranged in a columndirection and overlaps with the other wirings arranged in a rowdirection, the parasitic capacitance between the scan start signal lineand the other wirings may increase, so that the distortion of thesignals may occur.

Since the first and second clock signals ckv and ckvb discharge andcharge the parasitic capacitance, the power consumption increases. Theoutput signal of the dummy stage exists during display blanking periodin which image display does not occur, to thereby increase the powerconsumption.

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing an Nth stage and an (N+1)th stagein a shift register according to one exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 13 is a graph showing the output of the shiftregister of FIG. 12.

Referring to FIG. 12, each of the stages of the shift register includesa pull-up part 171, a pull-down part 172, a pull-up driver part 173 anda pull-down driver part 174. In FIG. 12, the same reference numeralsdenote the same elements in FIG. 7, and thus the detailed descriptionsof the same elements will be omitted.

The output of the pull-down driver part 174 of the last stage isconnected to the pull-down part 172 of the last stage and also isconnected to the pull-up driver part 173 of the dummy stage.

Particularly, the source of the sixth transistor M6 is connected to thegate of the fifth transistor M5 of the dummy stage.

The output of an inverter (transistors M6 and M7) has a low voltagelevel while the Nth stage (the last stage) outputs the Nth gate linedriving signal GOUT[N]. The output voltage of the inverter is changed toa high voltage level when the Nth stage is reset (or inactivated) by the(N+1)th gate line driving signal GOUT[N+1]. The high level outputvoltage of the inverter turns on the fifth transistor M5 of the pull-updriver part 173 of the dummy stage and resets the dummy stage.

Referring to FIG. 13, the output signals GOUT[1], GOUT[2], GOUT[3],GOUT[4] and GOUT[5] is generated. The output signal GOUT[6] of the dummystage resets the last stage, and then the voltage of GOUT[6] is dropped(or lowered).

Since the output signal of the dummy stage does not exist during thedisplay blanking period, the power consumption may be reduced. Namely,the output signal of the dummy stage exists during the display blankingperiod in FIG. 11, but the output signal of the dummy stage does notexist during the display blanking period in FIG. 13, so that the powerconsumption due to the output signal of the dummy stage may be reduced.

In addition, since the dummy stage is reset not by the scan start signalSTV, the layout area for gate driver circuit of the TFT LCD is reduced.

In addition, the parasitic capacitance due to the scan start signal linemay be reduced, so that the distortion of the signals may be reduced andthe power consumption of the first and second clocks due to theparasitic capacitance may be reduced.

In FIG. 10, since the scan start signal line is connected to the firststage and is also connected to the sixth stage so as to reset the dummystage, another layout area is required, and overlap between the scanstart signal line and the other wirings exists.

However, as shown in FIG. 12, since the dummy stage is reset by theoutput signal of the inverter of the last stage, the layout area may bereduced, and the overlap between wirings may be reduced.

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram showing an Nth stage and an (N+1)th stagein a shift register according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 15 is a graph showing the output of theshift register of FIG. 14.

Referring to FIG. 14, each of the stages of the shift register accordingto another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes apull-up part 171, a pull-down part 172, a pull-up driver part 173 and apull-down driver part 174. In FIG. 14, the same reference numeralsdenote the same elements in FIG. 7, and thus the detailed descriptionsof the same elements will be omitted.

The output of the pull-up part 171 of the dummy stage is connected tothe discharge transistor M5 of the pull-up driver part 173 of the laststage so as to reset the last stage, and also is connected to thepull-up driver part 173 of the dummy stage so as to reset the dummystage.

Particularly, the source of the first transistor M1 of the dummy stage,or the drain of the second transistor M2 of the dummy stage is connectedto the gate of the fifth transistor M5 of the last stage and also isconnected to the gate of the fifth transistor M5 of the dummy stage.

The output signal of the dummy stage turns on the fifth transistor M5 ofthe discharge transistor M5 of the dummy stage and resets the dummystage.

Referring to FIG. 15, the output signals GOUT[1], GOUT[2], GOUT[3],GOUT[4] and GOUT[5] is generated. The output signal GOUT[6] of the dummystage resets the last stage, and then the voltage of GOUT[6] is dropped(or lowered).

Since the output signal of the dummy stage does not exist during thedisplay blanking period, the power consumption may be reduced. Namely,the output signal of the dummy stage exists during the display blankingperiod in FIG. 11, but the output signal of the dummy stage does notexist during the display blanking period in FIG. 15, so that the powerconsumption due to the output signal of the dummy stage may be reduced.

In addition, since the dummy stage is reset not by the scan start signalSTV, the layout area for gate driver circuit of the TFT LCD is reduced.

In addition, the parasitic capacitance due to the scan start signal linemay be reduced, so that the distortion of the signals may be reduced andthe power consumption of the first and second clocks due to theparasitic capacitance may be reduced.

In FIG. 10, since the scan start signal line is connected to the firststage and is also connected to the sixth stage so as to reset the dummystage, another layout area is required, and overlap between the scanstart signal line and the other wirings exists.

However, as shown in FIG. 14, since the dummy stage is reset by theoutput signal of the dummy stage, the layout area may be reduced, andthe overlap between wirings may be reduced.

The shift direction of the output signal GOUT[1], GOUT[2], GOUT[3] andGOUT[4] is fixed in the shift register of FIGS. 6 and 7, and the a-SiTFT LCD device using the shift register of FIGS. 6 and 7 does notprovide a forward shift function or a backward shift function. Namely,the a-Si TFT LCD device using the shift register of FIGS. 6 and 7 maynot display images upside down on the display screen since the forwardshift function and the backward shift function is not provided.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a bi-directional shift registeremployed in the gate driver circuit of an a-Si TFT LCD according tofurther another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 16, the shift register includes a dummy stage 0 and adummy stage 1. The dummy stage 0 is connected to the first stage. Inaddition, a first selection signal Vbuf and a second selection signalVdis are used so as to select the shift direction.

The dummy stage 0 generates a dummy output signal (or a first resetcontrol signal) for resetting the first stage SRC1 when the shiftdirection is changed to a backward shift.

When a second power voltage Von is applied to the first selectionterminal Vbuf, a first power voltage Voff is applied to the secondselection terminal Vdis, a first clock signal ckv is applied to a firstclock terminal CKV and a second clock signal ckvb is applied to a secondclock terminal CKVB, the forward shift operation occurs. In the forwardshift operation, the gate line driving signals GOUT[1], GOUT[2], GOUT[3]and GOUT[4] are sequentially generated in the named order.

In addition, when a first power voltage Voff is applied to the firstselection terminal Vbuf, a second power voltage Von is applied to thesecond selection terminal Vdis, the second clock signal ckvb is appliedto the first clock terminal CKV and a first clock signal ckv is appliedto the second clock terminal CKVB, the backward shift operation occurs.In the backward shift operation, the gate line driving signals GOUT[4],GOUT[3], GOUT[2] and GOUT[1] are sequentially generated in the namedorder.

Since the a-Si TFT LCD device uses NMOS transistors, the high voltagelevel of the first and second selection signals Vbuf and Vdis need to belarger than the maximum voltage of the first and second clock signalsckv and ckvb. The first and second selection signals Vbuf and Vdis arecomplementary each other, and the first and second clocks ckv and ckvbare complementary each other. Namely, the second selection signal Vdishas a phase 180° different from that of the first selection signal Vbuf,and the first clock signal ckv has a phase 180° different from that ofthe second clock signal ckvb. The first and second clock signals ckv andckvb may be alternately applied to the first and second clock terminalsCKV and CKVB so as to change the shift direction.

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram showing a second stage and a third stage inthe shift register of FIG. 16, and FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram showinga dummy stage 0 in the shift register of FIG. 16. FIG. 19 is a circuitdiagram showing a first stage in the shift register of FIG. 16, and FIG.20 is a circuit diagram showing a fourth stage in the shift register ofFIG. 16. FIG. 21 is a circuit diagram showing a dummy stage 1 in theshift register of FIG. 16.

Referring to FIG. 17, in the second and third stage, the first selectionterminal Vbuf is connected to a drain of transistor M3, and the secondselection terminal Vdis is connected to a source of transistor M5 so asto provide the forward shift function or the backward shift function.

The forward shift operation occurs when the first selection signal Vbufhas a high voltage level (HIGH) and the first clock signal ckv isapplied to the clock terminal CKV. Namely, the Nth stage is set (oractivated) by the output signal GOUT[N−1] of the previous stage, and isreset (or inactivated) by the output signal GOUT[N+1] of the next stage.

The backward shift operation occurs when the second selection signalVdis has a high voltage level (HIGH) and the second clock signal ckvb isapplied to the clock terminal CKV. Namely, the Nth stage is set (oractivated) by the output signal GOUT[N+1] of the next stage, and isreset (or inactivated) by the output signal GOUT[N−1] of the previousstage. The first and second selection signals Vbuf and Vdis arecomplementary each other

Referring to FIG. 19, in the first stage, transistors M8 and M9 isconnected to a gate of the buffer transistor M3.

The first selection signal Vbuf is applied to the gate of the transistorM8 so as to select the scan start signal STV, and the second selectionsignal Vdis is applied to the gate of the transistor M9 so as to selecta dummy 0 signal, or the output signal of the dummy stage 0.

The forward shift operation occurs when the first selection signal Vbufhas a high voltage level (HIGH) and the first clock signal ckv isapplied to the clock terminal CKV. Namely, the first stage is set (oractivated) by the scan start signal STV, and is reset (or inactivated)by the output signal GOUT[2] of the next stage.

The backward shift operation occurs when the second selection signalVdis has a high voltage level (HIGH) and the second clock signal ckvb isapplied to the clock terminal CKV. Namely, the first stage is set (oractivated) by the output signal GOUT[2] of the next stage, and is reset(or inactivated) by the dummy 0 signal, or the output signal of thedummy stage 0. The first and second selection signals Vbuf and Vdis arecomplementary each other.

Referring to FIG. 20, in the fourth stage (or a last stage), transistorsM10 and M11 are connected to a gate of a discharge transistor M5.

The first selection signal Vbuf is applied to the gate of the transistorM11 so as to select the dummy 1 signal, or the output signal of thedummy stage 1, and the second selection signal Vdis is applied to thegate of the transistor M10 so as to select the scan start signal STV.

The forward shift operation occurs when the first selection signal Vbufhas a high voltage level (HIGH) and the second clock signal ckvb isapplied to the clock terminal CKV. Namely, the fourth stage is set (oractivated) by the output signal GOUT[3] of the previous stage, and isreset (or inactivated) by the dummy 1 signal, or the output signal ofthe dummy stage 1.

The backward shift operation occurs when the second selection signalVdis has a high voltage level (HIGH) and the first clock signal ckv isapplied to the clock terminal CKV. Namely, the fourth stage is set (oractivated) by the scan start signal STV, and is reset (or inactivated)by the output signal GOUT[3] of the previous stage. The first and secondselection signals Vbuf and Vdis are complementary each other.

Referring to FIG. 21, in the dummy stage 1, the output signal GOUT[4] ofthe previous stage is applied to a gate of the buffer transistor M3, thepower terminal Von is connected to a drain of the transistor M3, thescan start signal STV is applied to a gate of the transistor M5, and thepower terminal Voff is connected to a source of the transistor M5.

When the first clock signal ckv is applied to the clock terminal CKV,the dummy stage 1 is set by the output signal GOUT[4] of the previousstage, and is reset by the scan start signal STV.

The dummy stage 1 outputs the dummy 1 signal to the drain of thetransistor M11 of the fourth stage and resets the last stage (SRC4)during the forward shift operation.

Referring to FIG. 18, in the dummy stage 0, the output signal GOUT[1] ofthe next stage, or the first stage, is applied to a gate of the buffertransistor M3, the power terminal Von is connected to a drain of thetransistor M3, the scan start signal STV is applied to a gate of thetransistor M5, and the power terminal Voff is connected to a source ofthe transistor M5.

When the first clock signal ckvb is applied to the clock terminal CKV,the dummy stage 0 is set by the output signal GOUT[1] of the next stage,and is reset by the scan start signal STV.

The dummy stage 0 outputs the dummy 0 signal to the drain of thetransistor M9 of the first stage and resets the first stage (SRC1)during the backward shift operation.

FIG. 22 is a graph showing scan line driving signals outputted from thestages of FIG. 16 during a forward shift. When Vbuf=Von, Vdis=Voff,CKV=ckv and CKVB=ckvb, the forward shift operation occurs. The secondclock signal ckv has a phase 180° different from that of the first clocksignal ckvb.

Referring to FIG. 22, the voltage of the first clock signal ckv ischanged to a high level in response to the rising edge of the scan startsignal STV after a predetermined period (t1) of delay, and then thefirst gate line driving signal GOUT[1] is generated at the outputterminal of the first stage.

Next, the gate line driving signals GOUT[2], GOUT[3] and GOUT[4] aresequentially generated at the output terminals of the first, second,third and fourth stages, respectively.

FIG. 23 is a graph showing scan line driving signals outputted from thestages of FIG. 16 during a backward shift. When Vbuf=Voff, Vdis=Von,CKV=ckvb and CKVB=ckv, the backward shift operation occurs.

Referring to FIG. 23, the voltage of the first clock signal ckv ischanged to a high level in response to the rising edge of the scan startsignal STV after a predetermined period (t2) of delay, and then thefourth gate line driving signal GOUT[4] is generated at the outputterminal of the fourth stage.

Next, the gate line driving signals GOUT[3], GOUT[2] and GOUT[1] aresequentially generated at the output terminals of the first, second,third and fourth stages, respectively.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a bi-directional shift registeremployed in the gate driver circuit of an a-Si TFT LCD according to astill another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 24, the dummy stage 0 is connected to the first stage.In addition, a third selection signal VSEL1 and a fourth selectionsignal VSEL2 are used so as to select the shift direction. The third andfourth selection signals VSEL1 and VSEL2 are applied to each of thestages through transistors M8, M9, M10 and M11.

The high voltage level of the third and fourth selection signals VSEL1and VSEL2 need to be larger than the maximum voltage of the first andsecond clock signals ckv and ckvb. The third and fourth selectionsignals VSEL1 and VSEL2 are complementary each other, and the first andsecond clock signals ckv and ckvb are complementary each other. Thefirst and second clock signals ckv and ckvb may be alternately appliedto the first and second clock terminals CKV and CKVB so as to change theshift direction.

When the second power voltage Von is applied to the third selectionterminal VSEL1, the first power voltage Voff is applied to the fourthselection terminal VSEL2, the first clock signal ckv is applied to thefirst clock terminal CKV and the second clock signal ckvb is applied tothe second clock terminal CKVB, the forward shift operation occurs. Inthe forward shift operation, the gate line driving signals GOUT[1],GOUT[2], GOUT[3] and GOUT[4] are sequentially generated in the namedorder.

In addition, when the first power voltage Voff is applied to the thirdselection terminal VSEL1, the second power voltage Von is applied to thefourth selection terminal VSEL2, the second clock signal ckvb is appliedto the first clock terminal CKV and a first clock signal ckv is appliedto the second clock terminal CKVB, the backward shift operation occurs.In the backward shift operation, the gate line driving signals GOUT[4],GOUT[3], GOUT[2] and GOUT[1] are sequentially generated in the namedorder.

FIG. 25 is a circuit diagram showing a second stage and a third stage inthe shift register of FIG. 24, FIG. 26 is a circuit diagram showing afirst stage in the shift register of FIG. 24, and FIG. 27 is a circuitdiagram showing a fourth stage in the shift register of FIG. 24.

Transistors M8 and M9 are connected to a drain of transistor M3, andtransistors M10 and M11 are connected to a gate of transistor M5.

The third selection terminal VSEL1 is connected to gates of transistorM8 and M11, and the fourth selection terminal VSEL2 is connected togates of transistor M9 and M10.

Referring to FIG. 25, in the second and third stages, the forward shiftoperation occurs when the third selection signal VSEL1 has a highvoltage level (HIGH). Namely, the Nth stage is set (or activated) by theoutput signal GOUT[N−1] of the previous stage. The output signalGOUT[N−1] of the previous stage is selected by transistor M8. The Nthstage is reset (or inactivated) by the output signal GOUT[N+1] of thenext stage. The output signal GOUT[N+1] of the next stage is selected bytransistor M11.

The backward shift operation occurs when the fourth selection signalVSEL2 has a high voltage level (HIGH). Namely, the Nth stage is set (oractivated) by the output signal GOUT[N+1] of the next stage. The outputsignal GOUT[N+1] of the next stage is selected by transistor M9. The Nthstage is reset (or inactivated) by the output signal GOUT[N−1] of theprevious stage. The output signal GOUT[N−1] of the previous stage isselected by transistor M10. Namely, the third and fourth selectionsignal VSEL1 and VSEL2 determines the shift direction.

Referring to FIG. 26, in the first stage, the scan start signal STV isapplied to a drain of transistor M8, a dummy 0 signal, or the outputsignal of the dummy stage 0, is applied to a transistor M10.

The third selection signal VSEL1 is applied to the gates of transistorsM8 and M11 so as to select the scan start signal STV and GOUT[2] signal,and the fourth selection signal VSEL2 is applied to the gates oftransistors M9 and M10 so as to select a dummy 0 signal and GOUT[2].

The forward shift operation occurs when the third selection signal VSEL1has a high voltage level (HIGH) and the first clock signal ckv isapplied to the clock terminal CK. Namely, the first stage is set (oractivated) by the scan start signal STV, and is reset (or inactivated)by the output signal GOUT[2] of the next stage.

The backward shift operation occurs when the fourth selection signalVSEL2 has a high voltage level (HIGH) and the second clock signal ckvbis applied to the clock terminal CK. Namely, the first stage is set (oractivated) by the output signal GOUT[2] of the next stage, and is reset(or inactivated) by the dummy 0 signal, or the output signal of thedummy stage 0.

Referring to FIG. 27, in the fourth stage (or a last stage), the thirdselection signal VSEL1 is applied to the gates of transistors M8 and M11so as to select GOUT[3] and the dummy 1 signal, and the fourth selectionsignal VSEL2 is applied to the gates of transistors M9 and M10 so as toselect the scan start signal STV and GOUT[3]. The dummy 1 signal, or theoutput signal of the dummy stage 1, is used to provide the backwardshift function.

The forward shift operation occurs when the third selection signal VSEL1has a high voltage level (HIGH) and the second clock signal ckvb isapplied to the clock terminal CK. Namely, the fourth stage is set (oractivated) by the output signal GOUT[3] of the previous stage, and isreset (or inactivated) by the dummy 1 signal, or the output signal ofthe dummy stage 1.

The backward shift operation occurs when the fourth selection signalVSEL2 has a high voltage level (HIGH) and the first clock signal ckv isapplied to the clock terminal CK. Namely, the fourth stage is set (oractivated) by the scan start signal STV, and is reset (or inactivated)by the output signal GOUT[3] of the previous stage.

The dummy stage 0 and the dummy stage 1 has the same circuit structureas that of the dummy stage 0 and the dummy stage 1 of FIGS. 18 and 21.

FIG. 28 is a graph showing scan line driving signals outputted from thestages of FIG. 24 during a forward shift.

When VSEL1=Von, VSEL2=Voff, CKV=ckv and CKVB=ckvb, the forward shiftoperation occurs. The second clock signal ckv has a phase 180° differentfrom that of the first clock signal ckvb.

FIG. 29 is a graph showing scan line driving signals outputted from thestages of FIG. 24 during a backward shift.

When VSEL1=Voff, VSEL2=Von, CKV=ckvb and CKVB=ckv, the backward shiftoperation occurs.

FIGS. 30, 31, 32 and 33 are block diagrams respectively showing abi-directional shift register according to still another embodiment ofthe present invention. A dummy stage 0 and a dummy stage 1 are reset bythe output signals of the first stage or the last stage instead of thescan start signal STV in order to prevent the output signals of thedummy stage 0 and the dummy stage 1 from existing during the displayblanking period. FIG. 30 shows the connection between the dummy stage 0and the first stage of FIG. 19, and FIG. 31 shows the connection betweenthe dummy stage 0 and the first stage of FIG. 26. FIG. 32 shows theconnection between the dummy stage 1 and the last stage of FIG. 20, andFIG. 33 shows the connection between the dummy stage 1 and the laststage of FIG. 27.

Referring to FIG. 30 and FIG. 31, a gate of a pull-down transistor M2 ofthe first stage is connected to the output of an inverter (M6 and M7) ofthe first stage, and is connected to a hold transistor M5 of the dummystage 0 through a transistor M13 of the dummy stage 0.

In the dummy stage 0, the forward shift operation occurs when Vbuf=Von,Vdis=Voff. The dummy stage 0 is set (or activated) by the scan startsignal STV inputted through the transistor M12 of the dummy stage 0, andis reset (or inactivated) by the output signal GOUT[1] of the firststage. The backward shift operation occurs when Vbuf=Voff, Vdis=Von. Thedummy stage 0 is set (or activated) by the output signal GOUT[1] of thefirst stage, and is reset (or inactivated) by the output signal of theinverter of the first stage.

Accordingly, in the backward shift operation, the dummy stage 0 is resetby a control signal, or the output of the inverter of the first stageinstead of the scan start signal STV, to thereby prevent the outputsignal of the dummy stage 0 from remaining during the display blankingperiod.

Referring to FIG. 32 and FIG. 33, a gate of a pull-down transistor M2 ofthe last stage is connected to the output of an inverter (M6 and M7) ofthe last stage, and is connected to a hold transistor M5 of the dummystage 1 through a transistor M13 of the dummy stage 1.

In the dummy stage 1, the forward shift operation occurs when Vbuf=Von,Vdis=Voff. The dummy stage 1 is set (or activated) by the output signalGOUT[4] of the last stage, and is reset (or inactivated) by the outputof the inverter (M6 and M7) of the last stage. The backward shiftoperation occurs when Vbuf=Voff, Vdis=Von. The dummy stage 1 is set (oractivated) by the scan start signal STV inputted through transistor M14of the dummy stage 1, and is reset (or inactivated) by the output signalGOUT[4] of the last stage.

Accordingly, in the forward shift operation, the dummy stage 1 is resetby a control signal, or the output of the inverter of the last stageinstead of the scan start signal STV, to thereby prevent the outputsignal of the dummy stage 1 from remaining during the display blankingperiod.

FIGS. 34, 35, 36 and 37 are block diagrams respectively showing abi-directional shift register according to still another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. A dummy stage 0 and a dummy stage 1are reset by the output signals of the dummy stage 0 and the dummy stage1 instead of the scan start signal STV in order to prevent the outputsignals of the dummy stage 0 and the dummy stage 1 from existing duringthe display blanking period. FIG. 34 shows the connection between thedummy stage 0 and the first stage of FIG. 19, and FIG. 35 shows theconnection between the dummy stage 0 and the first stage of FIG. 26.FIG. 36 shows the connection between the dummy stage 1 and the laststage of FIG. 20, and FIG. 37 shows the connection between the dummystage 1 and the last stage of FIG. 27.

Referring to FIG. 34 and FIG. 35, an output signal of the dummy stage 0is connected to a hold transistor M5 of the dummy stage 0 through atransistor M13 of the dummy stage 0, and the output signal GOUT[1] ofthe first stage is connected to a gate of a buffer transistor M3 of thedummy stage 0.

In the dummy stage 0, the forward shift operation occurs when Vbuf=Von,Vdis=Voff. The dummy stage 0 is set (or activated) by the scan startsignal STV inputted through the transistor M12 of the dummy stage 0, andis reset (or inactivated) by the output signal GOUT[1] of the firststage. The backward shift operation occurs when Vbuf=Voff, Vdis=Von. Thedummy stage 0 is set (or activated) by the output signal GOUT[1] of thefirst stage, and is reset (or inactivated) by the output signal of thedummy stage 0.

Accordingly, in the backward shift operation, the dummy stage 0 is resetby the output signal of the dummy stage 0, to thereby prevent the outputsignal of the dummy stage 0 from remaining during the display blankingperiod.

Referring to FIG. 36 and FIG. 37, an output signal of the dummy stage 1is connected to a hold transistor M5 of the dummy stage 1 through atransistor M15 of the dummy stage 1, and the output signal GOUT[4] ofthe last stage is connected to a gate of a buffer transistor M3 of thedummy stage 1.

In the dummy stage 1, the forward shift operation occurs when Vbuf=Von,Vdis=Voff. The dummy stage 1 is set (or activated) by the output signalGOUT[4] of the last stage, and is reset (or inactivated) by the outputof the inverter (M6 and M7) of the last stage. The backward shiftoperation occurs when Vbuf=Voff, Vdis=Von. The dummy stage 1 is set (oractivated) by the scan start signal STV inputted through transistor M14of the dummy stage 1, and is reset (or inactivated) by the output signalGOUT[4] of the last stage.

Accordingly, in the forward shift operation, the dummy stage 1 is resetby a control signal, or the output of the inverter of the last stageinstead of the scan start signal STV, to thereby prevent the outputsignal of the dummy stage 1 from remaining during the display blankingperiod.

Although the above embodiments discuss the shift register for drivingthe gate lines of the liquid crystal display device, the presentinvention may also be utilized in the organic electroluminescent displaydevice.

While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention and itsadvantages have been described in detail, it should be understood thatvarious changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereinwithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined by appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of driving a plurality of scan lines byproviding a display panel with a plurality of scan line driving signalsfrom a gate driver including a shift register, the method comprising:receiving a scan start signal to generate a first scan line drivingsignal and lowering a voltage level of the first scan line drivingsignal so as to inactivate a first scan line in response to a secondscan line driving signal; receiving one of previous scan line drivingsignals to generate an Nth scan line driving signal for activating anNth scan line, N being a natural number in a range from two to a numberof scan lines except for a last scan line; lowering a voltage level ofthe Nth scan line driving signal so as to inactivate the Nth scan linein response to one of next scan line driving signals; generating a lastscan line driving signal from a last stage in response to one ofprevious scan line driving signals of the last scan line driving signal;generating a dummy output signal from a dummy stage in response to thelast scan line driving signal; lowering a voltage level of the last scanline driving signal so as to inactivate the last scan line in responseto the dummy output signal; and directly applying the scan start signalto the dummy stage to lower a fourth voltage level of the dummy outputsignal in response to the scan start signal.
 2. A method of driving aplurality of scan lines by providing a display panel with a plurality ofscan line driving signals from a gate driver including a shift register,the method comprising: receiving a scan start signal to generate a firstscan line driving signal and lowering a voltage level of the first scanline driving signal so as to inactivate a first scan line in response toa second scan line driving signal; receiving one of previous scan linedriving signals to generate an Nth scan line driving signal foractivating an Nth scan line, N being a natural number in a range fromtwo to a number of scan lines except for a last scan line; lowering avoltage level of the Nth scan line driving signal so as to inactivatethe Nth scan line in response to one of next scan line driving signals;generating a last scan line driving signal form a last stage in responseto one of previous scan line driving signals of the last scan linedriving signal; generating a dummy output signal from a dummy stage inresponse to the last scan line driving signal of a last scan stage;lowering a voltage level of the last scan line driving signal inresponse to the dummy output signal so as to inactivate the last scanline; wherein the last scan stage generates a signal in response to thedummy output signal and the dummy stage is inactivated by lowering avoltage level of the dummy output signal in response to the signaldirectly applied to the dummy stage from the last scan stage.
 3. Amethod of driving a plurality of scan lines by providing a display panelwith a plurality of scan line driving signals from at least one gatedriver including at least one shift register including a plurality ofstages, wherein the gate driver provides the scan line driving signalsto the scan lines, respectively in a forward shift from a first scanline to a last scan line or in a backward shift from the last scan lineto the first scan line, the method comprising: performing the forwardshift to generate a scan line driving signal in a Nth scan stage when afirst selection signal, which is transmitted to each of the plurality ofstages, has a first voltage level and a second selection signal, whichis transmitted to each of the plurality of stages, has a second voltagelevel, N being a natural number in a range from one to a number of scanlines which are connected to the stages; and performing the backwardshift to generate the scan line driving signal in the Nth scan stagewhen the first selection signal has a third voltage level and the secondselection signal has a fourth voltage level, wherein the first voltagelevel is different from the second voltage level and the third voltagelevel is different from the fourth voltage level.
 4. A method of drivinga plurality of scan lines by providing a display panel with a pluralityof scan line driving signals from a gate driver including a shiftregister, the scan lines being sequentially selected in a forward shiftfrom a first scan line to a last scan line or in a backward shift fromthe last scan line to the first scan line, the method comprising:generating a first scan line driving signal in response to a scan startsignal and lowering a first voltage level of the first scan line drivingsignal in response to a second scan line driving signal so as to performthe forward shift when a first selection signal has a first level, andgenerating the first scan line driving signal in response to the secondscan line driving signal and lowering the first voltage level of thefirst scan line driving signal in response to a second dummy outputsignal so as to perform the backward shift when a second selectionsignal has the first level; generating 2nd, 3rd, . . . , and (N−1)thscan line driving signals in response to a previous scan line drivingsignal and lowering a second voltage level of each of the 2nd, 3rd, . .. , and (N−1)th scan line driving signals in response to a one of nextscan line driving signals so as to perform the forward shift when thefirst selection signal has the first level, and generating the 2nd, 3rd,. . . , and (N−1)th first scan line driving signals in response to theone of the next scan line driving signals and lowering the secondvoltage level of each of the 2nd, 3rd, . . . , and (N−1)th scan linedriving signals in response to the previous scan line driving signal soas to perform the backward shift when the second selection signal hasthe first level, N being a natural number in range from 5 to a number ofthe scan lines; generating a Nth scan line driving signal in response toa (N−1)th scan line driving signal and lowering a third voltage level ofthe Nth scan line driving signal in response to the first dummy outputsignal so as to perform the forward shift when the first selectionsignal has the first level, and generating the Nth scan line drivingsignal in response to the scan start signal and lowering the thirdvoltage level of the Nth scan line driving signal in response to the(N−1)th scan line driving signal so as to perform the backward shiftwhen the second selection signal has the first level; generating thefirst dummy output signal in response to the Nth scan line drivingsignal and lowering the third voltage level of the Nth scan line drivingsignal in response to the first dummy output signal during the forwardshift; lowering a fourth voltage level of the first dummy output signal;generating the second dummy output signal in response to the first scanline driving signal and lowering the first voltage level of the firstscan line driving signal in response to the second dummy output signalduring the backward shift; and lowering a fifth voltage level of thesecond dummy output signal.
 5. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising: generating a first dummy output signal from a first dummystage during the forward shift; and applying the first dummy outputsignal to a last stage of the stages to lower an output level of a lastscan line driving signal.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:applying a start scan signal to the first dummy stage to lower an outputlevel of the first dummy output signal during the forward shift.
 7. Themethod of claim 3, further comprising: generating a second dummy outputsignal from a second dummy stage during the backward shift; and applyingthe second dummy output signal to a first stage of the stages to loweran output level of a first line driving signal.
 8. The method of claim7, further comprising: applying a start scan signal to the second dummystage to lower an output level of the second dummy output signal duringthe backward shift.
 9. The method of claim 3, wherein the first voltagelevel is higher than the second voltage level.
 10. The method of claim3, wherein the fourth voltage level is higher than the third voltagelevel.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the fourth voltage level issame as the first voltage level, and the second voltage level is thesame as the third voltage level.
 12. A display device comprising: atleast one data line: gate lines insulated from the data line; at leastone pixel comprising at least one first switching element connected tothe data line and one of the gate lines; at least one data drivercircuit configured to provide the data image signal to the date line;and at least one gate driver circuit comprising at least one shiftregister including a plurality of stages, one of the stages beingconnected to the one of the gate lines, wherein the one of the stages isconfigured to provide the one of the gate lines with a gate drivingsignal in a forward shift when a level of a first selection signalapplied to each of the plurality of stages is higher than a level of asecond selection signal applied to each of the plurality of stagesduring the forward shift, and wherein the one of the stages isconfigured to provide the one of the gate lines with a gate drivingsignal in a backward shift when the second selection signal is higherthan the first selection signal during the backward shift.
 13. Thedisplay device of the claim 12, wherein the first selection signaltransmitted to each of the plurality of stages through a first selectionsignal line and the second selection signal transmitted to each of theplurality of stages through a second selection signal line.
 14. Thedisplay device of the claim 13, the shift register further comprising: afirst and a second dummy stages, wherein the plurality of stages aredisposed between the first and the second dummy stages.
 15. The displaydevice of the claim 14, wherein the first dummy stage is configured toturn off a pull-up part of a stage electrically connected to the firstdummy stage in the forward shift, and the second dummy stage isconfigured to turn off a pull-up part of a stage electrically connectedto the second dummy stage in the backward shift.
 16. The display deviceof the claim 15, wherein each of the first and second dummy stagescomprises a dummy pull-up part configured to output a dummy gate drivingsignal corresponding to a clock signal applied to the dummy pull-uppart, and the dummy pull-up part of the first dummy stage is configuredto be turned off in response to a start scan signal in the forwardshift, and the dummy pull-up part of the second dummy stage isconfigured to be turned off in response to the start scan signal in thebackward shift.
 17. The display device of the claim 15, wherein each ofthe first and second dummy stages comprises a dummy pull-up partconfigured to output a dummy gate driving signal corresponding to aclock signal applied to the dummy pull-up part, and the dummy pull-uppart of the first dummy stage is configured to be turned off in responseto a start scan signal in the backward shift, and the dummy pull-up partof the second dummy stage is configured to be turned off in response tothe start scan signal in the forward shift.
 18. The display device ofthe claim 14, wherein each of the first and second dummy stagescomprises a dummy pull-up part configured to output a dummy gate drivingsignal corresponding to a clock signal applied to the dummy pull-uppart, and a pull-up driver part comprises a second switching element forproviding the dummy pull-up part with a first power voltage in responseto a start scan signal, and a third switching element for providing thedummy pull-up part with a second power voltage in response to a signalfrom one of the stages.
 19. The display device of the claim 18, whereinthe first power voltage is a negative direct constant voltage, and thesecond power voltage is a positive direct constant voltage.
 20. Thedisplay device of the claim 14, wherein the second dummy stage comprisesa first dummy pull-up part configured to output a first dummy gatedriving signal corresponding to a clock signal which is applied to thesecond dummy stage, a fourth switching element for providing the firstdummy pull-up part with a second selection signal of the selectionsignal in response to an output of a pull-up part of one of next stages,and a fifth switching element for providing the first dummy pull-up partwith a first selection signal of the selection signal in response to astart scan signal through a sixth switching element or an output of apull-down driver part of the one of the next stages through a seventhswitching element, wherein the sixth switching element is configured tobe controlled by the first selection signal and the seventh switchingelement is configured to be controlled by the second selection signal,and wherein the pull-down driver part of the one of the next stagesincludes eighth and ninth switching elements, the eighth switchingelement has a drain and a gate commonly connected with each other to beconnected to a second power voltage, a source connected to an outputterminal of the pull-down diver part of the one of the next stages, andthe ninth switching element has a drain connected to the output terminalof the pull-down driver part of the one of the next stages, a gateconnected to an control terminal of the pull-up part of the one of thenext stages and a source connected to a first power voltage, and thepull-up part of the one of the next stages is configured to output agate driving signal corresponding to a clock signal which is applied tothe one of the next stages.
 21. The display device of the claim 14,wherein the second dummy stage comprises a first dummy pull-up partconfigured to output a first dummy gate driving signal corresponding toa clock signal which is applied to the second dummy stage, a fourthswitching element configured to provide the first dummy pull-up partwith a second selection signal of the selection signal in response to anoutput of a pull-up part of an one of next stages, and a fifth switchingelement configured to provide the first dummy pull-up part with a firstselection signal of the selection signal in response to a start scansignal through a sixth switching element or the first dummy gate drivingsignal through a seventh switching element, wherein the sixth switchingelement is configured to be controlled by the first selection signal andthe seventh switching element is configured to be controlled by thesecond selection signal, and wherein the pull-up part of the one of thenext stages is configured to output a gate driving signal correspondingto a clock signal which is applied to the one of the next stages. 22.The display device of the claim 14, wherein the first dummy stagecomprises a second dummy pull-up part configured to output a seconddummy gate driving signal corresponding to a clock signal which isapplied to the first dummy stage, a tenth switching element configuredto provide the second dummy pull-up part with a first selection signalof the selection signal in response to an output of a pull-up part of anone of previous stages, and an eleventh switching element configured toprovide the second dummy pull-up part with a second selection signal ofthe selection signal in response to a start scan signal through atwelfth switching element or an output of a pull-down driver part of theone of the previous stages through a thirteenth switching element,wherein the twelfth switching element is configured to be controlled bythe second selection signal and the thirteenth switching element isconfigured to be controlled by the first selection signal, and whereinthe pull-down driver part of the one of the previous stages includesfifteenth and sixteenth switching elements, the fifteenth switching hasa drain and a gate commonly connected with each other to be connected toa second power voltage, a source connected to an output terminal of thepull-down diver part of the one of the previous stages, and thesixteenth switching element has a drain connected to the output terminalof the pull-down driver part of the one of the previous stages, a gateconnected to a control terminal of the pull-up part of the one of theprevious stages and a source connected to a first power voltage, and thepull-up part of the one of the previous stages is configured to output agate driving signal corresponding to a clock signal which is applied tothe one of the previous stages.
 23. The display device of the claim 14,wherein the first dummy stage comprises a second dummy pull-up partconfigured to output a second dummy gate driving signal corresponding toa clock signal which is applied to the first dummy stage, a tenthswitching element configured to provide the second dummy pull-up partwith a first selection signal of the selection signal in response to anoutput of a pull-up part of an one of previous stages, and a eleventhswitching element configured to provide the second dummy pull-up partwith a second selection signal of the selection signal in response to astart scan signal through a twelfth switching element or the seconddummy gate driving signal through a thirteenth switching element,wherein the twelfth switching element is configured to be controlled bythe second selection signal and the thirteenth switching element isconfigured to be controlled by the first selection signal, and whereinthe pull-up part of the one of the previous stages is configured tooutput a gate driving signal corresponding to a clock signal which isapplied to the one of the previous stages.
 24. The display device of theclaim 12, wherein the one of the stages comprising: a first pull-up partconfigured to provide the one of the gate lines with the gate drivingsignal corresponding to a clock signal which is applied to the firstpull-up part; and a first pull-up driver part configured to turn on thefirst pull-up part in response to a signal from one of previous stagesof the stages or a scan start signal in the forward shift, configured toturn off the first pull-up part in response to a signal from one of nextstages of the stages or a signal from a first dummy stage in the forwardshift, configured to turn off the first pull-up part in response to thesignal from the one of the previous stages of the stages or a signalfrom a second dummy stage in the backward shift, and configured to turnon the first pull-up part in response to the one of the next stages ofthe stages or the scan start signal in the backward shift.
 25. Thedisplay device of the claim 24, wherein the first pull-up driver partcomprises a seventeenth switching element which is configured to providethe first pull-up part with a first selection signal of the selectionsignal in response to the one of the previous stages, and the firstpull-up driver part further comprises a eighteenth switching elementwhich is configured to provide the first pull-up part with a secondselection signal of the selection signal in response to the one of thenext stages.
 26. The display device of the claim 24, the first pull-updriver part comprising: a nineteenth switching element configured toprovide the first pull-up part with a first selection signal of theselection signal in response to the start scan signal through atwentieth switching element or the signal from the second dummy stageadjacent to the stage through a twenty-first switching element; and atwenty-second switching element configured to provide the first pull-uppart with a second selection signal of the selection signal in responseto one of next stages, wherein the twentieth switching element iscontrolled by the first selection signal and the twenty-first switchingelement is controlled by the second selection signal.
 27. The displaydevice of the claim 24, the first pull-up driver part comprising: atwenty-second switching element configured to provide the first pull-uppart with a first selection signal of the selection signal in responseto one of previous stages; and a twenty-third switching elementconfigured to provide the first pull-up part with a second selectionsignal of the selection signal in response to a start scan signalthrough a twenty-fourth switching element or a first dummy stageadjacent to the stage through a twenty-fifth switching element, whereinthe twenty-fourth switching element is controlled by the secondselection signal and the twenty-fifth switching element is controlled bythe first selection signal.
 28. The display device of the claim 24, thefirst pull-up driver part comprising: a twenty-sixth switching elementconfigured to provide the first pull-up part with a second power voltagein response to one of previous stages through a twenty-seventh switchingelement or one of next stages through a twenty-eighth switching element,and a twenty-ninth switching element configured to provide the firstpull-up part with a first power voltage in response to the one of theprevious stages through a thirtieth switching element or the one of thenext stages through a thirty-first switching element, wherein thetwenty-seventh switching element is controlled by a first selectionsignal of the selection signal of the selection signal, thetwenty-eighth is controlled by a second selection signal of theselection signal, the thirtieth switching element is controlled by thesecond selection signal of the selection signal, and a thirty-firstswitching element is controlled by the first selection signal.
 29. Thedisplay device of the claim 24, the first pull-up driver partcomprising: a thirty-second switching element configured to provide thefirst pull-up part with a second power voltage in response to a startscan signal through a thirty-third switching element or one of nextstages through a thirty-fourth switching element; and a thirty-fifthswitching element configured to provide the first pull-up part with afirst power voltage in response to one of the next stages through athirty-sixth switching element or a second dummy stage adjacent to thestage through a thirty-seventh switching element, wherein thethirty-third switching element is controlled by a first selection signalof the selection signal, the thirty-fourth switching element iscontrolled by a second selection signal of the selection signal, thethirty-sixth switching element is controlled by the first selectionsignal, and a thirty-seventh switching element is controlled by thesecond selection signal.
 30. The display device of the claim 24, thefirst pull-up driver part comprising: a thirty-eighth switching elementconfigured to provide the first pull-up part with a second power voltagein response to a start scan signal through a thirty-ninth switchingelement or one of previous stages through a fortieth switching element;and a forty-first switching element configured to provide the firstpull-up part with a first power voltage in response to the one of theprevious stages through a forty-second switching element or a firstdummy stage adjacent to the stage through a forty-third switchingelement, wherein the thirty-ninth switching element is controlled by asecond selection signal of the selection signal, the fortieth switchingelement is controlled by a first selection signal of the selectionsignal, the forty-second switching element is controlled by the secondselection signal, and a forty-third switching element is controlled bythe first selection signal.
 31. The display device of the claim 12,wherein the one of the stages comprises a plurality of switchingelements which are simultaneously formed with the first switchingelements.
 32. The display device of the claim 13, wherein each of thestages receives one of a first clock signal from a first clock signalline and a second clock signal from a second clock signal line, phasesof the first clock signal and the second signal in the forward shift aredifferent from phases of the first clock signal and the second clocksignal in the backward shift, respectively.
 33. The display device ofthe claim 31, wherein the phase of the first clock signal in the forwardshift is same as the phase of the second clock signal in the backwardshift.